Photo courtesy of Zach Schubert A photo shows some of the playground equipment that True Light Christian School recently purchased from the city of Blaine.

MARSHALL — At recess, students at True Light Christian School play games like kickball or soccer, or jump rope. What’s missing is a playground, said Principal Zach Schubert.

For the past several years, the school hasn’t had playground equipment.

True Light plans to change that this spring. The school recently purchased playground equipment from the city of Blaine and is raising funds to install it this spring.

True Light will be holding a meeting about the new playground at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the school. Schubert said community members were welcome to attend, because the playground was something that not only students, but everyone could enjoy.

“We just want to make the community aware that a playground is being put in,” he said.

True Light had a $30,000 fundraising goal for the playground, Schubert said. That total would cover the cost of the playground equipment, as well as the cost of footings and a sidewalk.

True Light Christian School has been without a playground since around 2016 or 2017, Schubert estimated. At that time, the school’s playground had to be taken down for safety reasons, he said.

Building a new playground is something that parents at True Light have worked on for the past few years, Schubert said. Recently, an opportunity came up when the city of Blaine was updating its playgrounds. True Light was able to purchase the city’s former playground equipment for $9,000, Schubert said.

The playground equipment included features like swings, tunnels and slides, as well as a climbing wall. The plan will be to install the playground in an area near the True Light School and Grace Life Church parking lot behind High Street, Schubert said.

The school’s $30,000 fundraising goal would cover the $9,000 for the playground equipment, plus about $1,100 in transport costs to bring it to Marshall, and the costs of concrete for footings and a concrete perimeter around the playground area. True Light could also add features like benches as funds are available, he said.

Schubert said Hess Construction would be donating the groundwork and labor for the playground project.

True Light hopes to begin installation of the playground soon, Schubert said.

“Our goal would be by the end of the school year, which for us is May 23,” he said.